Bloodshed, gentlemen, no doubt is lamentable. I have seen…
““Bloodshed, gentlemen, no doubt is lamentable. I have seen some of it--more perhaps than many of those who talk about it with such levity. But there are worse things than bloodshed, even on an extreme scale. . . . The trampling down of law and order which, under the conditions of a civilised state, assure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--all this would be worse than bloodshed.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Violence is tragic, but the breakdown of law and order threatens fundamental freedoms more severely.
In simple terms: Lawlessness is worse than bloodshed.
Key Takeaway
Protect societal order.
Themes
law
freedom
justice
violence
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- community safety
- policy making
Key Concepts
social contract
civil liberties
government stability
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent abuse of law?
- How balance security and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Maintaining order can suppress necessary dissent.